Architects’ Business Blog
Insights, Strategies and Success Stories
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Architectural Trends Shaping the Industry Today: Reflections
‘Cities are built, but the world is impacted. Urban design creates either a sustainable legacy or an environmental liability’ The global architectural scene is a hotbed of innovation. New projects are constantly pushing the boundaries of design, technology, and cultural relevance. From the soaring heights of the Jeddah Tower, a key example of vertical urbanism,…
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Woke Architecture
A Design Philosophy for Awareness and Action The term “Woke Architecture” has emerged in recent discourse, though it seems to lack a formal definition within architectural theory. Broadly, it could refer to design practices that consciously address social justice, inclusivity, and equity. This approach emphasizes creating spaces that reflect diverse cultural narratives and challenge traditional…
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How Architects Work in 2025: Systems Thinking
Architects who will thrive in 2025 are those who see themselves not just as designers of buildings, but as orchestrators of ecosystems. An Opinion As an architect and the curator of this blog, I have spent years observing the ebb and flow of our profession. While the buzz around AI and its transformative potential is…
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Sales Mastery for Architects: A Tailored Strategy for Boutique Firms
Developing a bespoke sales strategy for boutique architecture firms requires a nuanced approach. It needs to reflect the personalized and high-quality services on offer. Drawing inspiration from Simon Squib’s ’10 Steps That’ll Turn You Into A Sales Machine’ here is a tailored sales strategy for architects: Define Your Unique Value Proposition (UVP) Understand Your Target…
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Essential Trades for High-Rise Construction
Constructing a high-rise building in modern cities requires collaboration among a wide array of specialized trades. Here is a brief guide to the essential trades usually involved in the construction of a high-rise: Design and Planning Structural Trades Exterior Envelope Interior Construction MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment) Specialized Trades Final…
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Why Architecture’s Blind Spots Are Hurting Our Cities
Contemporary architecture’s narrow focus on the main facade at the expense of the wider urban context has produced a visually discordant urban landscape that detracts from the overall aesthetic coherence of cities. Reclaiming the Forgotten Facades: The Missing Dimension in Architecture Contemporary architecture often prioritizes the main facade, crafting dramatic and visually arresting designs for…
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Why Architecture Must Design for Chaos; Not Stability
Architects at the Forefront of Rebuilding Societies The way we build our cities can exacerbate the impact of disasters, turning shelters into death traps. Architecture, however, must be a force for sustainable resilience, not fragility! Thriving through Chaos “Chaos: the inherent unpredictability in the behavior of a complex natural system” – Merriam Webster What if…
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Is Your Architectural Firm Failing?
A Framework for Recognition and Recovery Jim Collins’ book, How the Mighty Fall, presents a transformative framework for understanding organizational decline, providing a perspective that can be applied to architectural practices. While architects often focus on creativity and innovation, the same principles that apply to corporate giants are equally critical to smaller design firms. This…
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The Right to Sanitation: Leveraging the Public Urination Crisis
The global crisis of public urination, a persistent urban blight, has plagued cities for centuries. Despite the UN SDG’s recognition of sanitation as a fundamental human right, the issue remains unresolved, even in areas with public toilets. In cities where such facilities are scarce or inaccessible, the problem is exacerbated. While societal attitudes and personal…
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The Genius Architecture of Shibam: Yemen
A Timeless Model of Sustainable and Human-Centric Design Nestled in Yemen’s Hadhramaut region, Shibam stands as a testament to human ingenuity and a model of sustainable and human-centric design. Renowned for its towering mudbrick buildings, some reaching up to 11 stories, the city showcases how ancient communities thrived by working in harmony with their environment.…
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The Cost of Space Ambitions: Opportunity or Detriment?
Are We Sacrificing Earth to Build Beyond? The quest to build in space, from habitats on the Moon to missions to Mars, and God only knows where else, marks an intriguing era for architecture and design. It brings along with it a plethora of questions about the environmental and human costs we might not be…
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The Space Architect: Design for Extreme Environments
What is Space Architecture? Simply said, space architecture is the design and engineering of structures for use in outer space. It is design and construction for extreme environments where the primary goal is to create a livable environment that protects inhabitants from external elements and maintain life. However, designing for space introduces unprecedented constraints such…
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Architect-Client Relationships: Mitigating Conflict
The architect-client relationship is a cornerstone of successful projects. However, challenging client behavior can disrupt this delicate balance, leading to compromised design integrity, project delays, and financial loss. This post explores the more common examples of such behavior and offers practical contractual strategies to protect architects’ interests. Conflict resolution can indeed be a crucial component…
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Space Architecture: Beyond Earth!
In a thought-provoking Hub Talk, Dr. Samer El Sayary challenges us to envision a future where design meets the needs of humanity in the outer space. An inspiring conversation that ventured into uncharted territory, exploring concepts that could one day sustain life on distant planets. Sparking curiosity and pushing the boundaries of possibility, this hub-talk…
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The Practice of Architecture: Lessons Learnt from Covid19
COVID-19 transformed our world, profoundly influencing architecture in ways that continue to shape the profession. In this Hub-Talk, four leading voices across the architectural spectrum share valuable insights on the lessons learnt, offering unique perspectives on how the pandemic has reshaped business planning, design thinking, construction processes, and our fundamental approach to creating resilient, adaptive…
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3D Construction: Has the Future Arrived?
A Talk with Sebastian Andraos, CEO and Co-Founder at HAL Robotics, about 3D Construction Techniques, in particular Digital Automation The Architects’ Hub Qatar had the privilege of hosting a thought-provoking conversation with Sebastian Andraos, a visionary in the field of human-machine interactions and co-founder of HAL Robotics. His insights into the potential of 3D printing…
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The Power of Bamboo: A Talk with Simón Vélez
Simón Vélez Architects, Colombia The Future is into Natural Materials. It is the only way to save the planet. The Architects’ Hub had the distinct pleasure of engaging in an exclusive dialogue with the renowned architect, Simón Vélez, at the idyllic Heenat Salma Farm in Doha, Qatar. Over a cup of aromatic coffee, Loubna Agzafi…
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Architecture: A Broader More Holistic Definition
How can we construct a comprehensive definition of architecture that synthesizes the perspectives of architectural associations worldwide? “The art or science of building” – Merriam Webster While this simplistic dictionary definition may offer a basic understanding, it often falls short of capturing the complexity that professionals in the field know well. To explore a more…
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The Power of AI: How Advanced Robotics Can Transform Small Architecture Firms
Small architecture firms today face the challenge of staying competitive while managing limited resources. Humanoid robots, like Tesla’s Optimus, could offer a game-changing solution. Unlike traditional AI software, humanoid robots combine advanced technology with human-like interaction, helping architects streamline operations and enhance the client experience. For boutique studios, these robots can handle both simple tasks…
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You’re Not as Unique as You Think
Why Boutique Architecture Firms Must Understand Their Competition Many architects, particularly those in boutique or small practices, often hold the belief that their distinct design style and artistic vision shield them from competition. While this mindset stems from a place of confidence, it can lead to significant blind spots in an increasingly competitive market, inadvertently…